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Orchestrating the mid-air fire attack

Bird-dog pilots critical in fire-attack sequence
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Conair pilot John Grech at the controls of the twin-engine bird-dog plane he flies to help guide the aircraft that are attacking wildfires. Mark Brett/Western News

As a bird-dog pilot John Grech香蕉视频直播檚 role in helping orchestrate the mid-air ballet of the aerial fire attack teams is a critical component of success but more importantly, safety.

He, along with the B.C. Wildfire Service air attack officer beside him work as the command and control plane for the multi-aircraft battle of wildfires in B.C.

香蕉视频直播淚 have to assess all the hazards香蕉视频直播 they香蕉视频直播檙e (airtankers) big, they香蕉视频直播檙e heavy and they have a full load of retardant, so there has to be a very precise way to get them in and, just as important, I have to assess how do I get them out of there, what if they lose an engine? Where would they go? How would they be able to climb out of this mountainous terrain without killing themselves?香蕉视频直播 said Grech, who is in his first year on the job with . 香蕉视频直播淏ut there is still an element of danger.We can香蕉视频直播檛 move the mountains, but I香蕉视频直播檝e flown in many different elements of aviation in my career, but I香蕉视频直播檝e found this to be the most challenging and the most rewarding.香蕉视频直播

That experience includes military and similar bird-dog work in Ontario and operating his own air service in Malta.

At the controls of the powerful, twin-engine plane, Grech must first fly the route the tankers will take to drop the retardant, as well, he will sometimes lead them in through the smoke or follow as the need dictates.

香蕉视频直播淲e may have five tankers coming in and we have to provide air traffic control for them, find them different altitudes,香蕉视频直播 said Grech. 香蕉视频直播淚 have to manage the air space to make sure there is no conflict or to cause an air-to-air collision. It香蕉视频直播檚 being an air traffic controller while you香蕉视频直播檙e flying the airplane.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of pressure, lots of adrenaline, but it香蕉视频直播檚 just part of the job and I love it.香蕉视频直播

Veteran Conair pilot Grahame Wilson, who now flies the airtankers spent five years as a bird-dog pilot himself and knows how critical having someone like Grech doing the job is.

香蕉视频直播淚 am looking out at what香蕉视频直播檚 going on but I need his guidance to point out things that I might not see,香蕉视频直播 he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e are a two-pilot airplane and on the fire my attention is mostly outside, watching what the bird-dog is doing and listening and understanding what he香蕉视频直播檚 telling me.香蕉视频直播





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